Nick Lionudakis

NICK LIONUDAKIS JAN 18, 1913 - OCT 11, 2009 The Lionudakis family lost its patriarch this week. Surrounded by family, Nick Lionudakis passed away on Sunday, October 11, 2009. His parents arrived in America May 27, 1912, after crossing the Atlantic from Greece on the Macedonia. Nick was born soon thereafter on January 18, 1913 in Sunnyside, Utah. He came into the world at a birth weight of 2 lbs and survived great odds to live a long vigorous life spanning almost a century. At age 8 an auto accident gave evidence to his early courage when he ran in darkness to the sounds of howling coyotes to reach help for his family who lay pinned under an overturned car. Nick was the oldest boy and would eventually have four brothers and five sisters. At age 12 his father moved the family to the Modesto area seeking to build a better future in farming. This pioneering family crossed the Sierras in a Model T. With a bicycle pump and his father urging him to ''pump Nicko pump'' he pressurized the fuel tank thus enabling the car to climb up the steep summit astonishing the stalled motorists they passed. Nick excelled at the challenges presented by life on the farm at the first part of the century. He plowed over a 100 acres by horse drawn plow and milked a herd of cows by hand all in record time. With an instinct for business and enterprise at an early age he persuaded his father to buy a tractor promising to pay for it by hiring tractor service out to nearby farms. He succeeded well and his photo on the caterpillar tractor was prominently featured in local advertising. He soon struck out on his own working several years milking cows in the foothills with the intention of starting his own dairy from the savings being banked by his employer. At the jobs end he was left unpaid and had to start over again. The jaws of the great depression had reached his young life and like so many of his time, it left a deep, lasting impression through which all future experiences would be viewed. He overcame the setbacks and succeeded in filling his dreams through exceptionally hard work, determination and resourcefulness. These qualities along with his vigor and strength of character were much admired by all who knew him. In 1946 he married the love of his life, Florene, and in the ensuring years they purchased land, planted orchards and developed successful commercial ag and trucking businesses. He was inventive and always looked for efficiencies to improve production, To maximize the use of time and equipment he designed a system to easily secure grape tanks to trailers that has been widely used. Nick had a keen sense of fairness and a willingness to extend opportunities. Ahead of his time, he made a hiring choice that he was pressured to reverse, but without hesitation or concern for consequences, he stood by his principles. Nick loved the outdoor life, horseback riding, boating, fishing and hunting. Shortly before his 93rd birthday he camped in the Colorado wilderness. He loved to grow things and in his later years was active in cultivating roses. Nick was deeply devoted, generous and loyal to his family and friends. He touched and inspired many lives. He had many wonderful stories drawn upon a life rich in experience and while his stories entertained, they were often crafted to help prepare us protect us and teach us to live and thrive in the world He was truly a remarkable man. He leaves behind a legacy of a principled, hard working family man who, like many of his generation, endured hardship to build a better future for family and community. We were blessed to have him with us and we will miss him dearly. Nick Lionudakis leaves behind his beloved wife of 63 years, Florene Lionudakis, his daughter, Marlene Murphey of Fresno and his son Phillip Lionudakis of Escalon. Nick had 5 grandchildren: Dr. Bryan Murphey, Amber Lionudakis, Nicki Lionudakis, Simone Lionudakis and Eli Lionudakis; 6 great grandchildren: Alex Murphey, Graham Murphey, Hadley Murphey, Sierra Lionudakis, Armeda Gastelum, and Hannah Lionudakis. He is survived by brother Tony Lionudakis, and sisters Elizabeth Lionudakis and Christine Kockinis. He was preceded in death by his father Steve, mother Pearl, brothers Charlie, Verde, Dan and sisters Mary Kutsurelis, Eva Saras, and Lefthia Lionudakis. Visitation: Saturday, October 17th, 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and Sunday, October 18th, 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Funeral Service will be held at Lakewood Memorial Chapel on Monday, October 19th, at 11:00 A.M. with burial following at Lakewood Memorial Park. www.modbee.com/obituaries